arisia.org

What is Arisia 2026?

Arisia 2026 is a fan-run science fiction and fantasy convention, with its official site serving as the hub for the event's schedule, guests, safety policies, volunteering, and community spaces. The homepage emphasizes that the convention is close at hand, that programming is published as a living schedule that will keep changing, and that there is an official Discord server active year-round.

What the convention offers

• Programming and events: Panels, events, and other schedule items are posted so attendees can plan their weekend; the schedule is explicitly described as a living document updated throughout the convention.
• Guest of Honor spotlight: Artist Guest of Honor Lori Del Genis is an award-winning portrait artist who has exhibited at Arisia since 2014. Her planned talk connects her involvement in the Arisia art community to her current commission-based portrait work.
• Art and community identity: The badge and volunteer T-shirt art came from graphic designer and longtime community member Gilly Rosenthol.
• Year-round connection: An official Arisia Discord exists alongside an older unofficial server. The official server is described as permanent, open year-round, and governed by Arisia's Code of Conduct.
• Practical participation: The site surfaces Safety and Volunteer sections, and points to Progress Reports and Publications for convention updates.

Who it suits

Arisia 2026 fits people who want a participatory fan convention rather than a passive show. If you enjoy panel discussions, art-show culture, volunteering, or staying connected to a fandom community between events, the site's structure is aimed at you. The emphasis on a Code of Conduct and a dedicated Safety section also signals that attendees who care about clearly stated behavioral expectations will find that information foregrounded.

A practical next step

Start with the schedule to pick panels and events, then check the Safety and Volunteer pages if you plan to attend or help run the convention. If you want to keep up with changes before and during the event, the Progress Reports and Publications page is the intended update channel, and the official Discord is the ongoing community space. For a broader convention context, see Worldcon; for a comparable fan-run regional event, Boskone is a useful reference point.

What programming and events are on the Arisia 2026 schedule?

The Arisia 2026 homepage confirms that the convention schedule is live and covers programming panels, events, and more, but it does not list individual session titles or times. The page describes the schedule as a living document that will be updated throughout the convention, so the only reliable way to see what is actually on is to open the schedule itself and check back close to your arrival.

What the page tells you about programming

• Panels and events are both included. The announcement groups "Programming panels, Events, and more" together, which suggests a mix of discussion-style sessions and scheduled convention activities rather than a single track.
• The schedule changes. Because it is described as living and subject to updates, any printout or screenshot you make in advance may go stale. Treat the online version as the source of truth during the weekend.
• Guests of Honor shape some programming. Artist Guest of Honor Lori Del Genis is announced as sharing the story of how the Arisia art community helped her find her voice and how that led to her commission-based portrait work. That points to at least one featured talk or appearance tied to the guest lineup.
• Community spaces run alongside the schedule. An official Arisia Discord operates year-round and is governed by the convention's Code of Conduct, so it functions as a persistent backchannel for meeting people before, during, and after the event.

How to use this

If you are planning a weekend, start from the schedule page and build a shortlist rather than a minute-by-minute plan: pick one anchor item per block, then leave gaps for events you discover on site. Check the schedule again on your first day, since updates are expected. For context on the convention's history and guest roster, the official site is Arisia 2026, and the Artist Guest of Honor's own portfolio is at Gilly Rosenthol for the badge and volunteer T-shirt art credited to her.

Who are the Guests of Honor at Arisia 2026?

Arisia 2026 has announced Lori Del Genis as its Artist Guest of Honor. The convention describes her as an award-winning portrait artist who has exhibited at Arisia since 2014 and who will speak about how the Arisia art community helped her find her voice as an artist, leading to her current commission-based portrait work.

That is the only Guest of Honor named in the material available here, so treat the list as partial rather than complete — conventions typically announce several guests across categories, and Arisia maintains a dedicated Guests of Honor page where the full roster would appear.

If you are planning around a specific guest

• Check the schedule before committing to a day. Arisia notes that its schedule is a living document updated throughout the convention, so a guest's panels or signings can shift.
• Look for the Guests of Honor page. It is the natural place for bios and any additional honorees beyond the artist guest.
• Follow progress reports. The convention points to its Progress Reports and Publications page for late-breaking announcements.

Why an artist guest matters at a convention like this

Artist Guests of Honor tend to anchor the art show and the creative programming track rather than the main-stage events. If you are attending mainly for panels and socializing, their presence may matter less to you; if you are an illustrator, portraitist or someone hoping to build a commission practice, Del Genis's talk about finding a voice through a convention art community is likely the most directly useful session on the roster.

For the current and complete list, start at Arisia 2026 and navigate to the Guests of Honor page.

How can I volunteer for Arisia 2026?

Volunteering at Arisia is handled through the convention's own volunteer page: start at Arisia 2026 and follow the "Volunteer" link in the main navigation. That page is where the convention posts its volunteer information for the year, including the volunteer T-shirt art mentioned on the homepage, so it's the authoritative starting point rather than the Discord or the schedule.

What to expect from the process

• Sign-up happens on the site, not by emailing individuals. Use the Volunteer section of the official site to register your interest and see what roles are open.
• The schedule is a living document. Arisia notes that programming panels and events are updated throughout the convention, so volunteer shifts and needs can shift with it. Check back rather than relying on a single early look.
• The Discord is for coordination and community. Arisia runs an official, year-round Discord governed by its Code of Conduct, which is a practical place to ask questions and hear about last-minute needs. It complements the volunteer page; it doesn't replace it.
• Read the Safety and Code of Conduct material. Volunteers are often the first point of contact for attendees, so knowing the convention's conduct and safety policies before your shift matters more than any specific job title.

A concrete scenario

Suppose you're attending for a single day and want to help without missing the panels you came for. Volunteer early enough that you can pick a shift outside your must-see programming, then treat the schedule as changeable: confirm your slot again close to the convention, since Arisia explicitly says the schedule will be updated. If you're local and flexible, the days right before and after the convention tend to need the most hands, and those shifts rarely conflict with programming.

How to decide where to put your time

Next step: open the Volunteer page, note the sign-up method and any deadlines it lists, then join the official Discord so you'll catch schedule changes and shift openings as the convention approaches.

What safety policies and code of conduct apply at Arisia?

Arisia publishes safety and conduct information through its convention site, with the Code of Conduct applying both to the in-person event and to its official Discord community. The site's navigation includes dedicated Safety and Volunteer sections, and the welcome page states that the Arisia Discord is governed by the Code of Conduct and is intended to be a safe, welcoming space for all members.

What this means in practice

• The Code of Conduct is the baseline rule set. It covers behavior at the convention and extends to the official Discord server, which runs year-round rather than only during the event weekend.
• Safety is treated as a standing topic, not a one-off page. The presence of a Safety section in the main navigation suggests policies, reporting routes, and contact points are gathered there.
• Community spaces are explicitly in scope. Because the Discord is described as governed by the Code of Conduct, members should expect the same behavioral standards in chat as they would in person.

If you are deciding whether to attend or join

Check the Safety section before the convention for reporting procedures, harassment policies, and who to contact on site. If you plan to use the Discord, read the Code of Conduct first so you know what is expected in that space. Anyone with a concern during the event should use the reporting channels listed on the Safety page rather than relying on informal word of mouth.

For the current text of the policies, start at Arisia 2026 and open the Safety section.

How do I join the official Arisia Discord server?

Join the official Arisia Discord by using the invite link posted on the Arisia 2026 welcome page: the page lists an invite for the official server, described as permanent and open year-round. The same page also links a separate, unofficial Arisia Discord; if you want the official community space, choose the official invite.

What to expect after joining

• The official server is governed by Arisia's Code of Conduct, so read the rules channel first.
• It is meant for meeting and chatting with other Arisians during the convention and throughout the year.
• If you only want convention logistics, the schedule and progress reports on Arisia 2026 may be faster than asking in chat.

A practical next step

Open the Arisia 2026 welcome page, follow the official invite, then introduce yourself in the appropriate channel and check any pinned messages for current convention updates. If an invite has expired, return to the welcome page rather than trusting a random link, since the page is where Arisia posts the current official invite.